Sea of blue gathers for slain cop's funeral

St Patrick’s Cathedral at Parramatta has been transformed into a sea of blue with hundreds of police officers packing the funeral of colleague Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson.

More than 1000 officers will be joined by Detective Inspector Anderson’s family, friends and politicians at Wednesday’s funeral, which was due to start at 2pm.

Members of other emergency services, including ambulance and the State Emergency Service, are also in attendance, with the congregation already spilling out of the church and crowds gathering in an adjacent park to listen in.

The 45-year-old father of three was killed while on duty while attending to a neighbourhood dispute at Oakville in Sydney’s north-west on December 6.

Officers have laid flowers at the cathedral gates as they arrive for the full funeral service.

Detective Inspector Anderson’s wife, Donna Anderson, and his two brothers, Warwick and Damien, will deliver eulogies, as will Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.

Mr Anderson’s children are also expected to deliver readings.

Among the first to arrive were the Commissioner and his three deputies, Nick Kaldas, Catherine Burn and David Hudson, who will lead their colleagues in paying tribute to the fallen officer.

A funeral procession with marching escort and low-level fly past from Polair helicopters will travel along Victoria Road, Parramatta, between Marist Place and O’Connell Street at the conclusion of the service.